Authors:
Yariv Z. Levy
1
;
Dino Levy
2
;
Jerrold S. Meyer
1
and
Hava T. Siegelmann
1
Affiliations:
1
University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States
;
2
The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Keyword(s):
Addiction, Multiscale Modeling, Bio-signal Modeling, Behavioral Processes, Cognitive Processes, Neurophysiological Processes.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Signal Processing
;
Physiological Processes and Bio-Signal Modeling, Non-Linear Dynamics
Abstract:
According to the United Nations, approximately 24.7 million people used amphetamines, 16 million used cocaine, and 12 million used heroin in 2006/07 (Costa, 2008). Full recovery from drug addiction by chemical treatment and/or social and psychological support is uncertain. The present investigation was undertaken to expand our understanding of the factors that drive the dynamics of addiction. A new multiscale computational model is presented which integrates current theories of addiction, unlike previous models, considers addiction as a reversible process (Siegelmann, 2008). Explicit time dependency is added to the inhibition and the compulsion processes. Preliminary computational predictions of drug-seeking behavior are presented and potential correlation with experimental data is discussed. Validation of the model appears promising, however additional investigation is required.